CAREERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

Annual Careers evening

We hold a careers evening and social every autumn, open to students and anyone else interested in a career in environmental law. It is hosted in London, usually by a barristers' chambers. Francis Taylor Buildings have kindly hosted since 2013. A variety of professionals are on hand for informal chats and careers advice - helping you make the most out of your CV, including private practice solicitors, barristers, the Environment Agency, DEFRA, environmental consultants and NGOs.

ANNUAL CAREERS EVENING 2019

Once again kindly hosted by Francis Taylor Building, the UKELA Annual Careers Evening was held on 18 November and was another successful evening. Thank you to our advisers for giving up their time to guide our students into environmental law, to UKELA Vice Chair Ned Westaway for greeting our students and to Emma Lui, UKELA Trustee, for her inspirational presentation. There was a wonderful atmosphere, lots of enthusiasm (which wasn’t all down to the refreshments!) and some excellent discussions. Thanks to Paul Leonard for the photographs of the evening in action.

Events

As a student, you will find that attendance at our events will help develop your knowledge and networks. For more information about our events programme and how to attend see our events page. The majority are free to attend.

Other Resources and information

Getting Into Environmental Law

Mark Davies, a previous UKELA Student Adviser, has written an excellent guide on "Getting into Environmental Law". It has information covering the various routes into this area of work, both straight from education or as a career change. There are useful links, as well as a helpful Q and A section. This can be downloaded below.
>A Guide to Getting Into Environmental Law

Our bi-monthly journal, e-law, provides valuable updates on current environmental law issues. For opportunities to contribute an article please contact the student advisers.

There are also other organisations (legal and non-legal, governmental and non-governmental, UK and European as well as International), specialist academic centres, scientific institutions, policy centres and departments, and a variety of journals, magazines, books etc in this area of law and its connecting fields. Information about the various organisations and institutions are available on the web or via the specialist journals/magazines. There are also a variety of courses available in environmental law as well as courses in the wider and related fields.

Not all environmental lawyers or consultants studied law, or specifically environmental law, at undergraduate level, so it is worth exploring the different degrees, courses and options available at this stage and afterwards. There are many careers within the environmental field, be it as an environmental lawyer (within the public or private practice), scientist, consultant, academic, policy adviser, planner, surveyor etc.

Students should consult practising members, or the relevant bodies, of each profession they are interested in joining in order to find out what course might be suitable to study and what they might need to do afterwards in terms of practical training and qualification. Students might like to explore with such members and their respective professional bodies the opportunity of gaining some insight of their area of practice via a week's work experience.